"Disciple... how did you get signal?"
Anming stared at his perpetually loading friend request in despair. This was a genuine IPC flagship model—the kind that could bludgeon Antimatter Legionnaires to death with its case!
There was no way it couldn't connect to the Xianzhou network!
"Luofu tech—never lets you down." Qingque lounged in her chair, tossing him her phone. "Just use mine if you wanna chat with Lady Fu Xuan."
"My best disciple!"
Anming grabbed it like a lifeline. The Stellaron did mess with Jarilo-VI's signals, but that wasn't the real issue.
Blame that idiotic "Pom-Pom Communications" policy: "User IDs can only be changed once every 30 days."
Were they trying to kill him?!
Logging into Fu Xuan's chat as "Liuying's Dog" would summon the Great Divination Engine to nuke Jarilo-VI within seconds.
Until that cursed nickname expired, no way was he risking it.
A glance at Qingque's profile nearly made him choke.
ID: [Not the Sword Sovereign]
Bio: [Master Diviner—I quit swords!]
Her notifications? 99+.
[HOT BET] Yanqing vs. Qingque: The 9th Sword Sovereign Showdown! (99+)
▸ [Not the Sword Sovereign]: If these two are candidates, the Luofu's doomed.
▸ [Qingque's Tiles]: STFU hater! Our Sparrow God will dominate the Luofu!
▸ [Qingque's Kneecaps]: ^^ Ignore him. Obvious troll. Doxx him already.
▸ [Not the Sword Sovereign]: ?
▸ [Qingque's Tonsils]: STEP ON ME HARDER, MY QUEEN! WOOF WOOF!
▸ [My Dearest Qingque]: Stats don't lie. She held back in all 8 duels. Next stop: Arbiter-General!
▸ [Jade Abacus Online]: Qingque simps malding!
▸ [Qingque's Kneecaps]: ^^ Look, it's the resident barkeeper. Pathetic.
Anming's eye twitched. His disciple was famous.
Since when was Qingque a celebrity*?!*
Shaking his head, he opened Fu Xuan's chat—still displaying Qingque's earlier "Grandmaster's cheating!" report.
Truly, the most loyal backstabber.
[Anming]: Xu'er.
[Fu Xuan]: Done hiding?
She replied instantly, as if she'd known he'd message now.
Years apart, and her divination skills had only grown. She might've surpassed Jingtian.
The video call request popped up. After a breath, he accepted.
Static cleared to reveal Fu Xuan's face—thinner than he remembered, but her eyes were the same.
"You've met her, then."
Anming froze. He'd expected Fu Xuan to know about Liuying—but not this precisely.
Fu Xuan rested her chin on her palm, studying him through the screen. "Is it really you...?"
"Xu'er. Long time no see."
"Not as long as hers."
A bitter smile. "Did you... miss me?"
Her gaze reminded him of a tale: A vidyadhara man, reborn again and again, always loving the same woman—until she grew weary of the cycle.
Would she be the one he'd choose, even without memories?
"After the Stellaron, I'll come to the Luofu."
"But the Luofu has no peach blossoms."
Her voice cracked. No peach trees. No spring petals.
Anming pressed the screen to his face. "Then I'll plant them! From the Divination Commission to the Sky-Faring Commission—everywhere! You won't take a step without seeing them!"
"You..." Her eyes softened. "Idiot."
"Wait for me. Until then... talk to me more."
"I'll spam you every night. No escape."
"Ah, but with Liuying here, you don't need your phone, do you? Liuying's Dog."
"H-How do you—"
Anming's soul left his body. Was she watching him from orbit?!
"Xianzhou technology."
The call ended. Seconds later, a friend request arrived:
[Fu Xuan]
Two characters. Infinite dread.
"Grandmaster." Qingque gave him a thumbs-down. "You're screwed."
"Since when is the Luofu this advanced?!"
"Or maybe Lady Fu Xuan read your chats~ Who knows?"
Anming groaned, scrolling to his last hope.
The call connected.
"Anming? It's been a while. Trouble?"
Asta's voice was calm. The power of funding.
"Stationmaster! Emergency!"
"The station will always—"
"—SEVEN DAYS NO UPDATES! YOU WANNA DIE?!"
Herta's screech nearly shattered his eardrums.
So much for a break.
"Go play Simulated Universe. I'll update after Asta helps me."
"I'LL TURN YOU INTO A DOLL AND SMASH YOU MYSELF—"